糖心TV

New research has shown that understanding how oxygen participates in energy storage is critical for developing higher energy density batteries, in a new paper published by experts at WMG, at the University of 糖心TV.

Using advanced X-ray techniques, researchers at WMG, together with the   consortium, have obtained new insights into the oxygen redox activity in conventional ni-rich cathodes, which will help to deliver improved electric vehicle performance.

Range anxiety is a key concern of many potential EV buyers, but range is steadily improving as battery technology and research evolves. The Faraday Institution鈥檚 Next Generation Lithium-Ion Cathode Materials project, FutureCat, aims to develop understanding of existing and newly discovered cathode chemistries to deliver improved EV performance, whilst considering sustainability.

Professor Louis Piper, from WMG at the University of 糖心TV, who led the research explained: 鈥淭ransitioning to electrification requires integrating advanced materials science into battery processing to develop cheaper, safer, faster and better batteries, which is the focus of our research.鈥�

The battery field is moving to increasing nickel contents in cathodes to meet the Government鈥檚 stringent EV 2030+ targets. These roadmaps assume successful strategies in material development to allow cathodes like W-LNO to operate at high voltages without degrading. This work provides the platform towards realising that goal by better understand the redox mechanisms (i.e., the reactions that enable charging/discharging the battery) at high voltage operation.

The study employed advanced x-ray characterisation techniques at the Diamond Light Source in Oxford and at WMG. The team at WMG utilised novel in-house x-ray absorption spectroscopy which enabled researchers to look at the electrode redox process of the battery cathodes after careful disassembly. Researchers were surprised to find that the oxidised oxygen species had the same characteristics as another group of Li-ion battery cathodes, Li-excess transition metal oxides. Reconciling how the same oxidised oxygen environment exists in both conventional and Li-excess cathodes is critical for unlocking how to develop the next generation of cathodes.

Professor Piper adds: 鈥淭his work highlights how large-scale collaborative fundamental studies are needed even for supposedly 鈥榢nown鈥� systems.鈥�

WMG will be continuing with further studies in this field, supported by the Faraday Institution, for the benefit of cathode battery manufacturers.

A link to the published article can be found here:

A new report led by academics at WMG at the University of 糖心TV, proposes a ground-breaking safety assurance framework that has the potential to be applied across automated transport modes.

The new report is the result of 糖心TV鈥檚 extensive safety research which has undergone 12 months of evolution, development and validation with key stakeholders across the transport domains of land, sea and air.

Over the past year, 35 organisations in industry, academia, government and regulation from the UK and internationally have contributed to the discussions which have been captured in the report. The report encourages Government policy to tackle similar challenges all three domains face to realise the safe introduction of automated transport systems, in a joined-up manner.

The Cross Domain Safety Report highlights the economic potential of the global automated transport ecosystem, which is projected to reach over 拢750 billion by 2035, with a UK market share of approximately 6% representing 拢42 billion and creating up to 38,000 new jobs.

When it comes to safety assurance of automated transport systems, the report suggests the need to not only establish the safety level of automated transport, but also to communicate the safety level to all stakeholders (society, regulators, policymakers, developers etc).

Communicating safety level is key as one of the main obstacles to the safe introduction and consumer acceptance of automated transport are safety and trust, according to this new research. The report contains a set of key recommendations which include standardised definitions, new processes for virtual test environments, a new scalable and manageable safety assurance framework, and the key role of independent organisations.

The report highlights that whilst there are differences between the safety assurance processes of autonomous ships, aircraft or vehicles there are also large elements of crossover. This can then be leveraged by governments, developers and manufacturers by aligning safety artifacts across the different types of transport, allowing for greater safety and consumer acceptance.

Ian Stewart MP, Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we look ahead and horizon scan at emerging technologies鈥� We鈥檝e got to look ahead to make sure the regulations are in place.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really interesting that this conference looked at these issues holistically because it鈥檚 very easy in the world of transport to look at each mode as if it existed in isolation, but there will be cross cutting issues鈥�.

Professor Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Verification and Validation at WMG, University of 糖心TV, commented: 鈥淪afety of automated systems needs to be pre-competitive. At WMG, we are extremely grateful to all the contributors to the report who have come on this journey with us over the past 12 months.

"Capturing the collective intellectual output of the group, we have demonstrated in the report on cross domain safety assurance across land, air and marine, that there are a lot of synergies in the approaches across the transport domains. At the same time, there are certain aspects that will be very specific to the domains that should be tackled individually.鈥�

The full report can be read .

WMG, at the University of 糖心TV, and , have been awarded a share of 拢81 million in joint UK government and industry support to develop self-driving transport technology.

WMG is part of a consortium, led by , including the NEC Birmingham, Direct Line Group, Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Coventry University, dRisk, IPG Automotive and West Midlands Combined Authority.

The project entitled Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility (MACAM) has been awarded a total of 拢16.6 million by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), to establish a remote driving control hub, to oversee self-driving vehicles operating in Solihull and Coventry.

To make self-driving vehicle operations commercially viable, and offset current technology and driver costs, they must operate as efficiently as possible. This project therefore proposes a multi-area, multi-application self-driving operation, underpinned by Conigital鈥檚 5G-based, central, Remote Monitoring Teleoperation (RMTO) system.

A mixed fleet of 13 self-driving vehicles will be moving passengers and light freight (such as mail and parcels for delivery) between Birmingham International Rail Station and Birmingham 糖心TV Park, and between Coventry railway station and Coventry University campus. These routes have a known, current, need for alternative transport and offer an ideal platform from which to develop commercial self-driving solutions.

New mobility technology and services will lead to safer, greener and more efficient transportation for both people and goods. MACAM will build on the foundations set by other projects including the WMG-led consortium.

Midlands Future Mobility is installing infrastructure on 200+ miles of West Midland鈥檚 roads to enable trials of Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) solutions. This includes CCTV, weather stations, communications units, and highly accurate GPS coverage. The technology developed on the route will make UK roads safer and allow for more predictable goods delivery and journey times.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: 鈥淪elf-driving vehicles including buses will positively transform people鈥檚 everyday lives – making it easier to get around, access vital services and improve regional connectivity.

鈥淲e鈥檙e supporting and investing in the safe rollout of this incredible technology to help maximise its full potential, while also creating skilled jobs and boosting growth in this important sector.鈥�

WMG鈥檚 expertise on MACAM focuses specifically on the safety of the self-driving vehicles, as David Evans, Lead Engineer at WMG, University of 糖心TV explains: 鈥淩esearchers and engineers at WMG will be providing trial support and undertaking related research in line with industry standards and best practice, required for the operator(s) to conduct the automated vehicle deployments safely and securely.鈥�

Director of Intelligent Vehicles Research at WMG, University of 糖心TV, Professor Mehrdad Dianati, adds: 鈥淲e have seen remarkable progress in Connected and Automated/Autonomous Mobility Technologies in recent years. It is paramount to pave the way for commercialising these technologies, particularly in the promising near future application areas such as the ones the MACAM consortium aims for. We are excited to be a part of this journey to transfer the knowledge we have developed through our fundamental research to help this unique consortium of UK companies, universities and local authorities to create new economic development opportunities for the region and the country.鈥�

Don Dhaliwal, CEO of Conigital commented: 鈥淲e are delighted to strengthen our links with WMG and other partners to accelerate a joint vision of Autonomous, Connected, Electric & Shared (ACES) fleets to address cities and businesses needs to Go Zero, Zero Accidents, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion whilst creating new jobs via delivery of sustainable, accessible commercial CAM (Connected Autonomous Mobility) services.鈥�

The methodologies and outcomes generated by the MACAM project will directly benefit teaching, research, and further collaboration with industry at WMG, developing future UK expertise and capability.

Read more about WMG鈥檚 Intelligent Vehicles research here and Conigital

Read more about WMG鈥檚 MSc Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (SCAV) here.

Read more about the latest Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) funded self-driving projects

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The government is awarding almost 拢42 million to seven projects through the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) competition. Industry consortia will match the public grant to around 拢81 million and will be expected to demonstrate a sustainable commercial service by 2025.

The Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility project is part of CCAV鈥檚 Commercialising CAM Deployments Competition (CCAMD).

The Commercialising CAM programme is funded by the Centre for Connected and Automated Vehicles, a joint unit between the Department for Transport and the Department for 糖心TV and Trade and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.

The 拢40m CCAMD competition was launched in May 2022 to support the delivery of early commercialisable Connected and Automated Mobility Services and is part of the Government鈥檚 vision for self-driving vehicles. .

Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility– Conigital
拢8.3 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total 拢15.2 million. This project looks to establish a self-driving vehicle operation around various parts of the West Midlands, underpinned by a centralised, Remote Monitoring Teleoperation (RMTO) centre. The RMTO centre will be where the project鈥檚 self-driving vehicles are monitored and (when required) controlled from, using 5G connectivity. The project aims to make self-driving vehicle operations commercially viable, and offset current technology and driver costs.

Professor Robin Clark, Dean of WMG at the University of 糖心TV, was pleased to welcome Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove and West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street on Monday (20 March).

The Levelling Up Secretary and West Midlands Mayor signed a landmark deeper devolution deal for the region, marking a seismic shift in power, funding and responsibility from Whitehall to the region, at a ceremonial event that took place at WMG at the University of 糖心TV.

The deal puts more cash and power in the hands of local leaders to invest in the priorities that local communities truly care about, such as better bus and train services, skills and housing.

A new long-term funding settlement will enable the Mayor and local councils to plan for the long term, with certainty, and unlock tangible benefits for almost three million people living in the area.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: 鈥淰isionary local leaders like Andy Street understand the needs of their areas better than decision-makers in Whitehall - that is why it is vital that we put more power and control in their hands.

鈥淭his deal goes further than we鈥檝e ever gone before. It will give the Mayor unprecedented power to spend on local priorities and more control over transport, skills and housing – the things people truly care about.

鈥淭oday marks a bold new frontier in devolution in this country, and it鈥檚 fantastic to see the West Midlands right at the forefront.鈥�

Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor of the University of 糖心TV, which hosted the Levelling Up Secretary's visit, said: 鈥淚t is good to be able to support the hard work across our region that has led to this agreement. We鈥檙e proud to play an active role in driving business growth and innovation in the West Midlands, whether that鈥檚 through our apprenticeship programmes, support for start-ups, or our close partnerships with industry across the region.

"Our world leading research into new green energy and technology is an example of where we鈥檙e not only developing new businesses, skills, and jobs, but also helping the UK to reach its net zero goals.鈥�

Professor Robin Clark, Dean of WMG at the University of 糖心TV, added: 鈥淚t was a pleasure to welcome the Levelling Up Secretary and the West Midlands Mayor, and we were proud to provide the location for the signing of this landmark devolution agreement.

鈥淏efore the official signing, I had the opportunity to show Mr Gove our 3xD driving simulator for autonomous vehicle research, and to explain more about WMG鈥檚 commitment to developing new engineering and manufacturing skills to help bridge the gap between academia and industry.鈥�

Read more about the .

The MSc International Trade, Strategy and Operations (ITSO) course, at WMG at the University of 糖心TV is collaborating with the (IOE&IT) to provide students with access to key industrial opportunities and benefits.

The WMG ITSO course is the first accredited Master鈥檚 programme in the UK by the IOE&IT. It is a unique interdisciplinary course that integrates the most essential and closely associated pillars of international trade, strategy, and operations management within international business towards supplying compound talents for industries. Following the philosophy of research-informed teaching for practical implementation, the course also seeks industrial access and opportunities for students.

As part of the collaborative partnership an event was held recently introducing students to a new innovative way of learning and forging direct links between students and the IOE&IT.

At the event, Ms Helen Hastie Membership Development Manager from IOE&IT shared with the students information about professional memberships and the associated access to industry specialists and activities when studying ITSO. This helped students to improve their knowledge, skills, and opportunities for career development.

Ms Helen Hastie, explained: 鈥淚nternational Trade offers a unique opportunity for development not only at a country-to-country level, but professionally. The WMG ITSO course is actualising the career opportunities for the next generation of international traders, and the IOE&IT is delighted to continue supporting this growth.鈥�

ITSO student course representative, Shuyu Chen commented: 鈥淚t brings lots of useful information for ITSO students and this event helped us to know how to use resourses effectively during our study process. Also, the event enhanced the connection between the IOE&IT and us.鈥�

Danara Aldabergenova, also a ITSO student representative, added: 鈥淭his event was very informative for students. I learned about our accredited body and our opportunities as students. Moreover, we can become full members of The Institute of Export and International Trade. It is an excellent opportunity for us students, and I am very proud to have such a chance.鈥�

Find out more about WMG鈥檚 International Trade, Strategy and Operations Master鈥檚 Programme here: MSc International Trade, Strategy and Operations | University of 糖心TV

If you have an enquiry about the ITSO course, please email WMG鈥檚 Assistant Professor and ITSO Course Director, Dr Di Li:d.li@warwick.ac.uk or wmgmasters@warwick.ac.uk

The WMG Outreach team had another busy, fun-packed British Science Week, taking part in a total of seven special STEM events reaching out to more than 2,200 young scientists, teachers, and families.

Two further events had also been planned for around 400 more students, but these had to be postponed due to the snow.

is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths; and is a chance to look into the future and celebrate the impact scientific ideas can make on society. In support, the Outreach Team took part in the University of 糖心TV鈥檚 鈥�Slice of Science;鈥� hosted science days at local schools, while WMG鈥檚 Jianhua Yang, Tudor Dodoiu, Iyabo Adamu and Marcelle Batson-Warner took part in .

At Slice of Science, the University welcomed over 350 people. The Outreach Team ran an area called 鈥楨xperience Engineering鈥� which featured science experiments, the opportunity to write code to control a digital embroidery machine, the navigation of robotic vehicles through a maze, an interactive puzzle showing the electronics inside a car, aerodynamics experiments and more.

WMG鈥檚 Director of Outreach and Widening Participation, Professor Margaret Low, explained: 鈥淭hese experiences allow students to see how their school learning applies to complicated and world-changing technologies. Through our outreach programmes we hope to inspire young people to pursue careers in STEM, widen participation in Higher Education and make the STEM workforce more diverse.鈥�

WMG鈥檚 Widening Participation Co-ordinator, Dr Phil Jemmett, added: 鈥淲MG and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult have outreach activities that are designed to give students a sense of ownership, since there are always elements they can re-create or try out at home. All the experiments we use in science shows or at public events are written up on our website under WMG Experiments, and we show the audience how it all works.

鈥淚t鈥檚 never magic – this is something anyone can do if they put their mind to it. We want to show people how exciting science and engineering can be, and that anyone can be an engineer.鈥�

Find out more about WMG鈥檚 Outreach programme here: Public engagement and Outreach (warwick.ac.uk)

Expert comment from Mark Urbanowski.

Mark Urbanowski, Principal Engineer at WMG at the University of 糖心TV, said: 鈥�Travelling around the UK鈥檚 towns and cities is getting increasingly congested, polluted and unsafe. A key part of the solution to this problem, along with helping reach the UK鈥檚 Net Zero goal, is getting people and goods moved in efficient and clean vehicles, correctly sized for the journey, passenger and job requirements.

鈥淎ctive travel, walking and cycling, as well as emerging micromobility transport options like e-bikes, e-cargo vehicles and e-scooters, need the right infrastructure to make them convenient and safe to use. Without investment for infrastructure and integration into the broader public transport system, modal shift to these vehicle types; by commuters, families and businesses; will languish behind the rest of Europe. It鈥檚 an issue we will be addressing at our Micromobility event in May.鈥�

The project, involving engineers and researchers from WMG at the University of 糖心TV, has won a , from The Engineer magazine, in the Energy & Environment category.

The Awards celebrate the very best engineering collaborations and innovations across the UK.

EV-elocity is a research and development project looking at increasing the uptake of electric vehicles by helping consumers to monetise their investment using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) innovation.

With vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, electric vehicle (EV) batteries could store electricity - when there is an abundant supply - to power homes and businesses and to discharge it back to the national grid when it is most needed.

Researchers at WMG developed a new model that quantified the degradation in the vehicle鈥檚 battery because of different EV charging strategies. The model highlighted that it was possible to manage the battery to mitigate much of the degradation and it was possible to even extend battery life through proper control and battery conditioning.

This enables better use of renewable energy, lower carbon footprint, less pressure on the grid and financial savings, which can help electric vehicle owners pay back their investment.

The EV-elocity project has deployed V2G chargers in a range of locations across England as part of large-scale trials to gain technical, customer and commercial insights on the emerging technology. It is also investigating if, and how, additional use from V2G charging may affect EV battery life.

Professor of Systems Modelling, James Marco, explains: 鈥淥ne of the unique aspects of EV-elocity, was the integration of EV technology with future energy infrastructure, such as vehicle-to-grid, to demonstrate at scale how novel methods of EV charging can provide multiple benefits for both the consumer and the environment.鈥�

The project, led by Cenex, a not-for-profit consultancy specialising in delivery of low carbon vehicles and energy infrastructure projects also involves the Universities of Nottingham and 糖心TV; Leeds and Nottingham City Councils; and CrowdCharge, a platform that integrates and optimises smart electric vehicle charges.

EV-elocity is funded by the Department for 糖心TV Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), in partnership with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Read more about the award-wining EV-elocity project here:

New research shows an 80% reduction in global warming potential (GWP), when compared to incineration, by processing waste plastic via a unique advanced recycling solution known as HydroPRS鈩�, in a paper published by experts at WMG, University of 糖心TV.

Researchers from WMG鈥檚 Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing team have been working with Mura Technology on a project focusing on the advanced recycling industry and the environmental impact of the associated processes.

Advanced recycling technologies (also known as chemical recycling) include a range of processes that break plastics down, converting them into hydrocarbon products that can replace the virgin fossil feedstocks used by the chemicals industry to create new plastics and other industrial products such as asphalt.

Dr Stuart Coles, Reader of Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing at WMG, University of 糖心TV, explained: 鈥淎dvanced recycling will play an important role in realising the circular economy of plastics. The work conducted at WMG demonstrates a clear pathway towards Net Zero in recycled plastics and highlights improvements on the environmental footprint when compared with both existing production and disposal routes.

鈥淲e are delighted to see this work published as we explore the full potential of this technology moving forward.鈥�

The peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), reports that significantly reduced carbon emissions (measured as GWP in kilograms of CO2 equivalents) can be achieved if waste plastic is diverted towards HydroPRS鈩� and away from waste incineration – a comparable end of life treatment and currently, the fate of many 鈥榰nrecyclable鈥� plastics.

Pioneered by , HydroPRS鈩�, unlike pyrolysis, utilises supercritical water to convert post-consumer flexible, multi-layered and rigid plastics into high yields of stable, premium petrochemical feedstocks. Importantly, the products produced in the HydroPRS鈩� process were found in the LCA to have at least a comparable GWP when compared with naphtha, the fossil oil-based feedstock used in the production of plastics.

Dr Steve Mahon, Mura Technology鈥檚 CEO, said: 鈥淩esolving the global plastics crisis while reducing carbon emissions globally will inextricably require that the world is able to substitute fossil-based naphtha and other hydrocarbons for more sustainable feedstocks. This is Mura Technology鈥檚 ultimate goal and our innately scalable, innovative advanced recycling process using supercritical water is uniquely placed to pave the way to enable a low-carbon global circular plastics economy.鈥�

Currently, the fate of unrecycled waste plastics is landfill, incineration or leakage into our waterways and oceans. All have negative impacts on the environment. Whilst incineration recovers some energy from plastic, none of these processes keep material within the circular economy, which in turn sustains the demand for virgin plastic from fossil-based sources.

Mura鈥檚 Chief Sustainability Officer, Dr Geoff Brighty, added: 鈥淎s the global economy transitions away from fossil fuels, circular economies must operate at as low an environmental cost as possible. Alongside using the LCA to identify process improvements, the WMG team have demonstrated a clear, deliverable pathway to Net Zero for the HydroPRS鈩� process. This will help Mura decarbonise the petrochemical sector, whilst also reducing demand for fossil oil for plastic production by regenerating plastic waste into their feedstocks.鈥�

The LCA is focussed on Mura鈥檚 first site in Teesside, UK and was funded through Innovate UK鈥檚 Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging challenge (SSPP), as part of one of the demonstrator projects (grant number 49801).

Read the Hydrothermal Treatment of Waste Plastics: An Environmental Impact Study paper in full here

WMG is delighted at the news that Britishvolt have been purchased by Recharge.

Professor David Greenwood, Director of Industrial Engagement at WMG, University of 糖心TV said: 鈥淭his is great news for the UK, allowing us to capitalise on the value realised under the previous ownership. High value jobs will be protected and created in the UK as a result of this purchase - not just in the company, but in its upstream and downstream supply chains.
 
鈥淔or the UK to remain globally competitive, it is critical that we establish a strong battery manufacturing base to support many of our key industrial sectors, including automotive, aerospace, rail, marine and energy storage.鈥�

WMG looks forward to continuing to support the growth of the UK battery industry.

Read more about the news here: